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Firing squad: An eyewitness account of Gardner's execution
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 6/18/2010 | Nate Carlisle

Posted on 06/18/2010 8:20:26 AM PDT by markomalley

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To: beebuster2000

Ah, exit holes...that might explain the spread then.


21 posted on 06/18/2010 8:40:09 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: markomalley

steak, lobster tail, apple pie, vanilla ice cream and 7UP.

Apparently not Jewish.


22 posted on 06/18/2010 8:41:09 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: 109ACS
Only one hole fell outside the circle, but still on the 2 inch target. I wouldn’t classify that as “All over his chest.”

I got it...you're right of course.

23 posted on 06/18/2010 8:41:28 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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Detailed accounts of the deaths of these people are unhelpful. We do not have such accounts of the deaths of the killers' victims. Stories like this only provoke misplaced sympathy for the killers and, over the long haul, may undermine public support for judicial executions.
24 posted on 06/18/2010 8:42:30 AM PDT by Godwin1
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To: markomalley

Actually a shooting squad is a dignified way to go.


25 posted on 06/18/2010 8:44:37 AM PDT by Ancient Drive (DRINK COFFEE! - Do Stupid Things Faster with More Energy!)
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To: markomalley

What is with the spacing of the bullets?

Didn’t the shooters have to prove proficiency and in any case, how is it there is a spacing of some 4” between holes?

I actually feel sorry for the man and hope that the two bullets, which appear to have hit their intended mark, did the job and his end was quick.

He did choose a more humane way to go. I just can’t imagine being strapped to a gurney and having someone pump be full of chemicals.

Still, they could have used shotguns with Saboted slugs and rest assured it would have killed him instantly, even with the piss poor shooting of the other idiots.

Then again, they may have missed on purpose, which is crazy to think. Even though he murdered, we should exact the punishment humanely and quickly.


26 posted on 06/18/2010 8:45:14 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: markomalley
I thought the same thing, but consider a few things -

The angle of the shooter - they were separated by an unknown distance from each other. One would be dead-on in front, the others off-center. The target would be hit but the exit would be to the right of the target due to the offset angle.

Same thing with the shooter to the right - hit the target, but the angle would put the exit to the left.

Another factor is the path of the bullet does change based on what it strikes inside the body. It could have hit a bone and diverted the bullet.

The story says that the bullets did hit the heart. If they didn't we'd hear about it.

27 posted on 06/18/2010 8:46:14 AM PDT by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
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To: markomalley

This kinda shows me that one of the shooters on the left had the blank.


28 posted on 06/18/2010 8:47:07 AM PDT by darbymcgill
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To: Jewbacca

I’d go with a Diet Coke, but otherwise he made a good call.


29 posted on 06/18/2010 8:47:23 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Afisra
Four holes. One random blank so no one knows for sure who killed him?

When you shoot a high-powered rifle with a live round, there is a significant recoil. The heavier the bullet, the greater the recoil.

Blanks have no projectile, so they have no recoil.

I'd say that everybody on the firing squad knows whether or not he fired a live round or a blank. Using one blank is an old way of making it easier for the shooters to rationalize pulling the trigger, because theoretically, they don't know for sure if their rifle is loaded.

30 posted on 06/18/2010 8:47:49 AM PDT by Kenton (Just my $0.02 worth...)
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To: Walkingfeather
“...They actually should do a head shot, severing the brain stem. You hit someone in the heart there is plenty of blood left in the brain for them to be conscious and aware for a while after he has been shot...”

Good! Let the bastard feel pain. They should start with an ankle...

31 posted on 06/18/2010 8:48:51 AM PDT by chadwimc (Proud to be an infidel ! Allah fubar !!!)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner; 109ACS

Actually if you look at the picture of the chair it looks like there is a spacing of 4” and only two of the bullets hit their intended mark.

I don’t know how a shooter could miss by that much. They must have been pretty close to him, since the shooting took place in a room.


32 posted on 06/18/2010 8:49:12 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Kenton

The “blank” round isn’t a traditional blank. It’s an “ineffective round”. Still has the kick. They know what they’re doing.


33 posted on 06/18/2010 8:49:24 AM PDT by Bosco (Remember how you felt on September 11?)
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To: Vendome

Each came to the same point from a different angle, so they’d leave from a different angle.

Think of the target on his chest as the center of an “X” on its side.


34 posted on 06/18/2010 8:50:27 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: Afisra
Four holes. One random blank so no one knows for sure who killed him?

It is quite obvious to anyone even slightly familiar with firearms that firing a blank feels totally different than firing a round with a projectile. One shooter with a blank to "mask" who actually shot him is silly, in my mind. I've fired lots of blanks, and I don't recall feeling any recoil whatsoever. Now, as far as those saying these were "lousy" shots...what are you?....Olympic shooters? Hitting a circle within a 2" square is NOT bad shooting, especially at such a short distance. Heck, even hitting the 2" square for the "flyer" shot isn't that bad. I think too many people watch too much TV, and think that every firearm is a tack driver capable of minute of angle accuracy for anyone who picks up a gun. Shooting something with a long range round accurately at close range is actually pretty hard.
35 posted on 06/18/2010 8:51:39 AM PDT by rickomatic
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To: Walkingfeather

“They actually should do a head shot, severing the brain stem. You hit someone in the heart there is plenty of blood left in the brain for them to be conscious and aware for a while after he has been shot.”

That would definitly be quicker although i would hate to be the janitor that had to mop up 10 pounds worth of former brain and skull matter from the back of the room


36 posted on 06/18/2010 8:53:08 AM PDT by Shamrock498
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Not necessarily. Those rounds could easily have been withing a quarter sized grouping upon entry. At what distance were the shooters stationed, how far apart were they and how far behind the convict was the piece of wood we’re looking at?


37 posted on 06/18/2010 8:53:22 AM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: Godwin1
You are right. I'd prefer bringing back the gallows, Ft. Smith style and public, where they get hymns sung to them, and hoods pulled over their heads before the trap door is sprung.

A body twisting in the wind for 30 minutes or so has a far greater deterrent effect than a clinical execution.

And, as an added bonus, the ACLU would get p*ssed off over the hymn singing.

38 posted on 06/18/2010 8:53:24 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: beebuster2000
those are exits, probably deflected and tumbled passing thru.

You're right - exit holes don't matter. The holes in front - almost on top of each other - are the ones to judge shooting by...

39 posted on 06/18/2010 8:53:44 AM PDT by GOPJ (http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php?area=dam&lang=eng)
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To: Godwin1

“Detailed accounts of the deaths of these people are unhelpful. We do not have such accounts of the deaths of the killers’ victims. Stories like this only provoke misplaced sympathy for the killers and, over the long haul, may undermine public support for judicial executions.”

I agree. They need to recount the suffering of the victims and their families, not the murderous psychopath.


40 posted on 06/18/2010 8:54:01 AM PDT by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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